Do you think Theists are "stupid"? - Think Atheist2015-03-03T21:09:32Zhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/forum/topics/do-you-think-theists-are?xg_source=activity&feed=yes&xn_auth=noHi Jared. I just stumbled upo…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2011-06-28:1982180:Comment:7208202011-06-28T01:25:00.875Zdataguyhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/Dataguy
Hi Jared. I just stumbled upon your response to my post. I've never had anyone point this out to me before, but now that I'm aware I'll correct this in the future. Thanks.
Hi Jared. I just stumbled upon your response to my post. I've never had anyone point this out to me before, but now that I'm aware I'll correct this in the future. Thanks. I think there's two sides to…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2011-03-15:1982180:Comment:5841022011-03-15T09:58:32.344ZSean Fraserhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/SeanFraser
I think there's two sides to this. I've always said that there are 2 kinds of theists: ones who aren't able to grasp the concepts science provides, and those that choose not to. I would say the dumb ones are in the minority. The ones that choose not to accept scientific evidence are scared that it will prove everything they've ever believed in wrong, and their life would be devastated and they'd realize their life means nothing. That's real hard to accept. I try to make theists realize that…
I think there's two sides to this. I've always said that there are 2 kinds of theists: ones who aren't able to grasp the concepts science provides, and those that choose not to. I would say the dumb ones are in the minority. The ones that choose not to accept scientific evidence are scared that it will prove everything they've ever believed in wrong, and their life would be devastated and they'd realize their life means nothing. That's real hard to accept. I try to make theists realize that they simply placed their faith in fantasy, and need to shift it to reality. Keep faith, just put it in something that can be counted on. Welcome to the light! :)
So,…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2011-03-09:1982180:Comment:5790792011-03-09T17:07:18.948ZDienekeshttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/KeithPinster
<p>Welcome to the light! :)</p>
<p>So, would you say it was more effective for people to just point out the "hypocrisy" (as you describe it) with your belief system rather than trying to play on your emotions, so to speak? </p>
<p>I believe that, when trying to get a person to see reason, it is crucial to be as unemotional and concise as possible when having a conversation with them. It seems that once a "personal attack" happens, the unreasoning person just shuts down and almost feels…</p>
<p>Welcome to the light! :)</p>
<p>So, would you say it was more effective for people to just point out the "hypocrisy" (as you describe it) with your belief system rather than trying to play on your emotions, so to speak? </p>
<p>I believe that, when trying to get a person to see reason, it is crucial to be as unemotional and concise as possible when having a conversation with them. It seems that once a "personal attack" happens, the unreasoning person just shuts down and almost feels justified in their belief because they were able to fluster their debate partner. Did you find this to be true or am I off the mark in my reasoning?</p> Well, in that case I think yo…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2011-03-09:1982180:Comment:5790782011-03-09T17:01:29.250ZDienekeshttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/KeithPinster
<p>Well, in that case I think you are unwittingly doing people a favor. If someone makes a blanket statement of "they are all stupid", that person needs to be called out. Personally, I don't think we need to go "easy" on religious people, or even really show much respect for their delusions. On the other hand, it does us no service at all to generalize (unless you are specifically saying you are generalizing) and make personal attacks on people because of their delusion. I think it is much…</p>
<p>Well, in that case I think you are unwittingly doing people a favor. If someone makes a blanket statement of "they are all stupid", that person needs to be called out. Personally, I don't think we need to go "easy" on religious people, or even really show much respect for their delusions. On the other hand, it does us no service at all to generalize (unless you are specifically saying you are generalizing) and make personal attacks on people because of their delusion. I think it is much better to make concise, unemotional statements that make people think. When we drop into emotional arguments, we are playing on their field and they have much more practice at irrational arguments than we do.</p>
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<p>What you are unintentionally doing is making people actually think about their position and articulate it in a way so as to bring out any absurd, uninformed sentiments. I think that is a very good thing. So, for that, thanks! :)</p> Neither. I just get a little…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2011-03-09:1982180:Comment:5790682011-03-09T16:08:38.470ZT A Ahttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/TAA
Neither. I just get a little annoyed at people who call others stupid for doing the exact same behaviour they themselves were recently doing... Personally I do think religious/enlightenment/theist people are stupid, not always of their own making, but nonetheless. I was raised on critical thinking, I've never known any other way. Not saying I was easy on my parents/teachers though nope. A kid with a mind of her own never is. In society, usually people either conform or rebel.
Neither. I just get a little annoyed at people who call others stupid for doing the exact same behaviour they themselves were recently doing... Personally I do think religious/enlightenment/theist people are stupid, not always of their own making, but nonetheless. I was raised on critical thinking, I've never known any other way. Not saying I was easy on my parents/teachers though nope. A kid with a mind of her own never is. In society, usually people either conform or rebel. Hey TAA. You seem to enjoy p…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2011-03-09:1982180:Comment:5790592011-03-09T15:41:54.052ZDienekeshttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/KeithPinster
<p>Hey TAA. You seem to enjoy playing "devil's advocate" here. Just wondering, are you by any chance religious or do you just like getting people to explain things? </p>
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<p>BTW, I'm not saying it's bad to get people to explain things at all. I rather enjoy it. I think it really improves a person's debating skills, which I believe that anyone who wants to get in the ring with a xian needs. Just curios what your stance is. :)</p>
<p>Hey TAA. You seem to enjoy playing "devil's advocate" here. Just wondering, are you by any chance religious or do you just like getting people to explain things? </p>
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<p>BTW, I'm not saying it's bad to get people to explain things at all. I rather enjoy it. I think it really improves a person's debating skills, which I believe that anyone who wants to get in the ring with a xian needs. Just curios what your stance is. :)</p> The reason their brain goes d…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2011-03-09:1982180:Comment:5790582011-03-09T15:38:36.433ZDienekeshttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/KeithPinster
The reason their brain goes dormant "when religion is around" is because religion works on an emotional level. So, religious people tend to learn that any time their emotions come into play, they get to make emotional decisions and then they need to ignore any evidence to the contrary and exploit any evidence (even if it is supposition, and even if they have to twist it around so it's no longer even true) in support of their deluded hypothesis. They are otherwise "smart" because when emotions…
The reason their brain goes dormant "when religion is around" is because religion works on an emotional level. So, religious people tend to learn that any time their emotions come into play, they get to make emotional decisions and then they need to ignore any evidence to the contrary and exploit any evidence (even if it is supposition, and even if they have to twist it around so it's no longer even true) in support of their deluded hypothesis. They are otherwise "smart" because when emotions are not involved, they can think logically. But any time emotions are involved, that logical thought process goes right out the window. Uneducated people are easier…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2011-03-09:1982180:Comment:5790542011-03-09T15:32:22.011ZDienekeshttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/KeithPinster
Uneducated people are easier to indoctrinate. Anyone with a compromised ability to reason through a problem is easier to indoctrinate. So, I guess the answer to your question is yes. Anyone who has difficulty with the reasoning process, either through lack of experience, lack of maturity, or just plain stupidity is much easier to indoctrinate. That's why it's so important for religious people to push their delusions on children. If they can get them believing young enough, it's much easier…
Uneducated people are easier to indoctrinate. Anyone with a compromised ability to reason through a problem is easier to indoctrinate. So, I guess the answer to your question is yes. Anyone who has difficulty with the reasoning process, either through lack of experience, lack of maturity, or just plain stupidity is much easier to indoctrinate. That's why it's so important for religious people to push their delusions on children. If they can get them believing young enough, it's much easier to suck them in and keep them from thinking for themselves for a longer time period. Yes, actually you are right. …tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2011-03-09:1982180:Comment:5790532011-03-09T15:27:57.624ZDienekeshttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/KeithPinster
<p>Yes, actually you are right. When it comes to subjects that require insight, their ability to make an emotional decision and then only acknowledge facts (or usually suppositions) that support that view is unsurpassed.</p>
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<p>I was specifically talking about subjects that don't require any insight. Sorry I didn't say that. Things like math and certain basic demonstrable physics.</p>
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<p>But, yes, when it comes to anything that involves emotions, like politics, then those…</p>
<p>Yes, actually you are right. When it comes to subjects that require insight, their ability to make an emotional decision and then only acknowledge facts (or usually suppositions) that support that view is unsurpassed.</p>
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<p>I was specifically talking about subjects that don't require any insight. Sorry I didn't say that. Things like math and certain basic demonstrable physics.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>But, yes, when it comes to anything that involves emotions, like politics, then those people definitely won't admit any faulty thinking.</p> I can only say that through b…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2011-03-09:1982180:Comment:5790092011-03-09T13:36:28.144ZPaul Sheppardhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/PaulSheppard
I can only say that through being challenged by others and myself that the hypocrisy &amp; guilt made me re think my spiritual beliefs. The soft approach never worked for me as I just felt sorry for non believers, no-one had the guts to say and point out the dangers of spirituality as they did the whole open minded approach which just fed my beliefs. Guilt and shame worked for me as it made want to move away from those feelings and I could only do that by letting go of my spiritual beliefs.
I can only say that through being challenged by others and myself that the hypocrisy &amp; guilt made me re think my spiritual beliefs. The soft approach never worked for me as I just felt sorry for non believers, no-one had the guts to say and point out the dangers of spirituality as they did the whole open minded approach which just fed my beliefs. Guilt and shame worked for me as it made want to move away from those feelings and I could only do that by letting go of my spiritual beliefs.